CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME

Course overview

CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME (CTS) IS THE MOST PREVALENT FOCAL MONONEUROPATHY, CONSTITUTING 90% OF ALL NEUROPATHY CASES. THIS CONDITION OCCURS WHEN THE MEDIAN NERVE IS COMPRESSED AS IT TRAVERSES THE CARPAL TUNNEL, LEADING TO ENTRAPMENT NEUROPATHY. THE INITIAL SIGNS OF CTS ENCOMPASS PAIN, NUMBNESS, AND PARESTHESIAS WITHIN THE MEDIAN NERVE DISTRIBUTION. AS CTS IS A PROGRESSIVE CONDITION IN MOST PATIENTS, IT CAN RESULT IN PERMANENT LOSS OF SENSATION AND FUNCTION IN THE HAND IF IT IS NOT ADEQUATELY IDENTIFIED AND TREATED. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE ETIOLOGY, PRESENTATION, EVALUATION, AND MANAGEMENT OF CTS WHILE HIGHLIGHTING THE COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL HEALTHCARE TEAM IN EVALUATING AND TREATING THE CONDITION.